Nissan Qashqai 1.6 DIG-T 163 Tekna 2017 first drive

The previously conservative-looking front end has been embellished with a more intricate and aggressive nose design, revised lights (now with adaptive LED headlights on upper trims) and sharper bonnet creases, while the flanks and rear end have been lightly smartened. 

Inside, there's a new flat-bottomed steering wheel that's larger and has more buttons than before to allow easier operation of the binnacle's 5.0in TFT screen and cruise control - it's thinly padded but attractive and ergonomically pleasing. New seats on the upper trim levels impress by being supportive and accommodating, and the aforementioned nappa hide looks the part and is reasonably soft.

Tekna+ also introduces electric lumbar support and memory function for the driver's seat - both unique among Nissans in Europe - on top of the existing electric seat adjustment and heating on Tekna models, although steering reach and rake remain manual.

For the rest of the cabin, it's largely as you were: up front there are plentiful soft-touch surfaces above waist height, a commanding and roundly adjustable driving position and mostly satisfactory switchgear.

In the more austerely finished rear, there's well-lit and unencumbered accommodation for two six-foot adults (a third would be less happy), and a reasonably proportioned boot behind 60/40-splitting rear seats with a multi-configurable floor and handy storage features.